[Tutorial] Paths to 3ds max

[DEElekgolo]

1: Open photoshop and draw some damn shapes.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot1.Png

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2: Make things a little interesting...

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot2.Png

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3: Copy and paste everything and paste it into a new alpha layer.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot3.Png

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4: Press and hold ctrl and click on the alpha layer so it is selected like so.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot4.Png

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5: Click the paths tab and click "Make work path" from the drop list.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot5.Png

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6: Go to file>export>paths to illustrator and save the .ai file anywhere you can remember.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot6.Png

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7: Open 3ds max and go to file>import. And select the .ai file we recently selected

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot8.Png

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8: The import options are pretty strait forward here.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot9.Png

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9: And now we have the paths in 3ds max as splines that can be extruded, and used when modeling.

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot10.Png

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10: Be creative!

http://deelekgolo.wmclan.net/pathsto3d/screenshot11.Png

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[Newbkilla]

Wow, Dee, that is awesome. I never knew you could do that :)

+ rep

[Roostervier]

A little thing to add:

If you want an easier way to make those blocks, make the original image 12x12 or 16x16 or something of that nature. Then, use the pencil tool for the individual pixel. Then, when you use image size to up the size to say 2048x2048 or whatever, use nearest neighbour as the way to resize it, so it keeps the outlines perfect. easier than rectangular marquee imo. Anyway, cool tut I didn't know you could do this either.

[Newbkilla]

I thought this looked cool.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7446/ringm.jpg

It's a lot easier to set up the grid for 1 pixal by 1 pixal, and scale the image up with sharp edges.

[Ganon]

I thought this looked cool.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7446/ringm.jpg


looks like the batman signal in the middle

[Roostervier]

Lol that's what I said, but not in such simple terms. d:

e: About that starting at ultra low res first then upressing.

[Newbkilla]

Lol that's what I said, but not in such simple terms. d:

e: About that starting at ultra low res first then upressing.

Yea, yea, I know, I was "adding on" to your post, saying I tried it out, and it worked out great.

[DEElekgolo]

I found this out when I looked into how my favorite artist was able to make such complex shapes.
http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs46/i/2009/201/3/a/Chromatic_summer_by_k3_studio.jpg
Sauce (http://k3-studio.deviantart.com/)

[Futzy]

Using the polar coordinates tool is not at all necessary, or even wanted. That is just an example that DEE followed when he found a tut on how to do this.

Maybe it has been revamped in CS4, but in CS3 using the selection to path feature always yields bad results in the corners and general shape of the path. If you know how to use them, make your path with the actual path tools. Filters cant be used on paths but the warp/distort/transform functions can.

[DEElekgolo]

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6451/vraygitemplate2.png
For fucks and giggles.

[Joshflighter]

wow.. THIS IS AWESOME! Thanks!

[klange]

For fucks and giggles.
I see what you did there.

Now do the other logo.

[Futzy]

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4669/cfassfsdn.jpg

[DEElekgolo]

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2359/autobackup04.png
Wongin it

[Futzy]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7344/fadhfdksfhj.png

It's not capping the ends of the spline on the right :/

e: nvm

[Limited]

Damn nice, super quick way to make decent logos and much more :D

Edit: Tried to make some paths in Illustrator, when I save out, max doesnt like the files. Any clues people?

Edit 2: Damn legacy, had to save as Illustrator 3 file.

[DEElekgolo]

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4826/wogles.png
o

[DaaxGhost]

i'm so fuckin confused. What size image is that..

When I hit polar coordinates it makes different colors and makes it look nothing like a shape. Just a bunch of boxes thown around.

What the hell..? :maddowns:

[TEMPTii]

Holy crap that pwns! +rep :)

[SMASH]

My photoshop doesn't have an export button! WTF!

EDIT: Nevermind, didn't hit "See all menu options".